AAP government gears up to check pollution ahead of Diwali

The Delhi government on Thursday said it will soon launch an awareness campaign to highlight the extreme adverse impact of fire crackers on the air quality during the Diwali season, and will take action against the sale and use of Chinese crackers.

The decision was taken in a review meeting headed by environment minister Imran Hussain, the government said. The meeting attended by the senior officials of environment and forest department and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) was held following direction from chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in the wake of the latest report of the World Health Organisation (WHO), according to which Delhi has been rated as the second most air polluted city. The situation was reviewed by the environment department and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.

In the meeting, Mr Hussain directed the environment department to take all necessary measures for launching the campaign drive. Expressing concerns over health and safety hazards due to Chinese crackers, the government said, “The use of Chinese crackers increases manifold in the festive season and such use is also a major source of air and noise pollution, causing respiratory problems particularly among the elderly and children.”

As per the government, Mr Hussain asked the department to hold regular meetings with land owning agencies, including municipal bodies, for review of action taken against the violators indulging in burning of dry leaves, waste and plastic material, etc., in the open. The government will act against the violators of dust control norms

“It was pointed out in the meeting that with the onset of forthcoming winter season lower layers of atmosphere get cooler and consequently, one sees rise in air pollution in the city. Further the air pollution gets aggravated due to burning of crop residues in the neighbouring states and that the situation further gets worsened on the eve of Diwali festival with the bursting of fire crackers which also adds to the heightened levels of noise pollution causing health related problems especially to senior citizens and c-hildren,” a statement issu-ed by the government said.

According to the government, Mr Hussain asked the environment department to urgently review the matter with stakeholders and take proactive steps.